Motor vehicle signal lamp



Aug. 25, 1936. A. E. BRANDON MOTOR VEHICLE SIGNAL LAMP Patented ug. 25, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,051,811 Moron vzE'HIcLE 'SIGNAL llfr'ed Eduard'Brandon, New York, N. Y. ipmieafionrbmry 1s, 1935, serial Noxwss laclaims. (ohm-eze) invention relates to improvements in .m0- torvehicle signal lamps, .more .particular of the .type used on automobiles, which warning signals comifiined with-means to throw 1beams of flight laterally as `vvellas againsta vehicle;..and the ,obdects-of the improvementare;

.-Eirst: to incorporate all the usual signals in a novel casing or structure and .having improved `means to project beams Zin Yany-desi1feidirec-tion laterally as well lals-against a vehicle equipped with lthe invention. Second, .to provide a novel vrarrangement :of the usual warning signals `in the ,said Astimcture @cooperative with-one another., so as to Vattract fthe attention Yef dri-vers of vehiclesorfother `-persons more readily and effectively. l Third, `to provide va novel arrangement of' light indicators, closely associated with the .usual signals so as to increase the warning effects.

AEou-rth, to provide va, novel varrangement fof colored :lenses `in .the structure to reduce uthe vdanger of sideward-approaches.

Fifth, to afford facilities .for-the ypr-opermountv.ing of .a vehicle rlicense :plate .against the casing `or structure whereby; first-the usual rbeams `of light thrown vthereon are `fully .intercepted `and --intensiedthereom secondother'beams of light from signals, other than `the .rst or usual, Aare also thrown thereon to substitute Awhen theirst or usual .signal source of light -isyoult gof v4order; Vthird-vibration, `rattling, .misalignment .and .posysi-ble loss fof .license `plates encountered .with y the usual arm or brackets .iseliminated. Sixth, toprovide amovelfarrangementofta plurality of 1beams against the vehicle, :wherebyithe surfaces thereof, `normally illuminated ntrornone signal source of light, are further'lluminatedfby -beams from other signalsources .oflghtthereby insuring safety inftraveling 'for motorist.

Seven-th, to providea-s'ignal :lan- 1p ofthe character described, adapted .forense atfthefrearas well aslthe `fore of.automobiles .or other vehicles rwithout impair'ing .the structure and reliabilityfoflsaid signals respectively, and `which is vralso `attractive .fin design.

` neform of the-invention .is-illustrated .in .the eccompanyingadrawing, .in which .Figure lesta,iront-elevaJtional-viewl of thalamp, liter-ront lens and fri-m .being substantially .broken off toshowthe i-nterior'thereof.Y

`Figure-2 :is 4aside elevational view ,of .the lamp. QJigur-egisa :vertical sectional viewontheline '1i-.laforet 1-, Figure 4 is a verticalsectional view .on .thevl-ne 3474:@ Eigez' .Y

A Illustrated .is a casing having a lower or hori- .Zontal parabolic chamber 'I, joining a vertical parabolic .chamber fia, to which is secured a detachable parabolic cap 1b.

This vertical chamber vfore Wallis about paral- 1 lel with its longitudinal axis and is shown 'for .sake of 4simpilcity flat; and serves, 'interiorly, to .reflect beams Arearwardly of the casing or structure, while exteriorly, is arranged for mountinga vehicle license plate, .referred to vhereinafter.

Y .The ,parabolic cap ib open end projects 'for- Ward of the said fore Wall and is arranged to receive a plane .portion 3 preferably inclined as shown. (Said portion 3 may be 'flat or curved and, i'fsodesiredbe madeone ,piece with the cap.:

`The`llower chamber open front is provided with aninner Iian'ge l, adapted Ito seata lens 5. And .'6 .is an impressedband around said "flange to receive alsplit rim .1, having llugs '8, adapted to receivea-s'crewor 'bolt E, to secure the lensand rim O A in place'.

.l' are ,paraloclic re'ecting Yportions depressed from the parabolic surface o'f the chamber il., and varranged. 'around the open 'front thereof, and

their fore wall`being on the edge of said front4d converging rearward-in a manner wherebyapices ',Il v,laterally of the lower chamber are constituted. The portions T0 function to ,project beams ,laterally as well .as 'rearwardly of the casing or signalchamber and upon 'theflenses Yth'er'eat 12 are 'light vlenses or indicators, preferably mounted Ain each fore wall of the'porti'on's I6, and

Y,they are visible .forwardly and "laterally of the casing `or structure, are rendered luminous from,

[the usual'bulb of the,signals,'reierred toherein- "ing `l5ffor` passage o'f light onto the front lens.

It is obvious that the reector I3formsthecen- ,tral parabolic portion of the vertical chamber "la and Ytends .to project rays'upwardly, while the Y kportion .'I directs'the rays rearwardly.

Disposed in the vreflector is the 'usual tail or `parking `bulb ,I6lin the usualsocket "II with wire .Ill in ithe `manner indicated.

' .il 9 is an Vexterior curved parabolic portion of `the reflector. f 3 with theou'ter edge against 'the'.front lens to .conne the light, fprojected through 'the Vvopeningkl'on a desired portion of said lens,

while .theu'ndersurac'e7 marked I'Sw, functions the same as .theportion Hof .thereflector stated above. l Y

. structure, yand `alsointensiy thelightwithin veach 0' 2l) are openings formed in the reflector for passage of light onto the aligned indicators.

2I is a second reflector, secured to lugs 22 provided with threads, adapted to receive screws 23. It is obvious that the reflector 2| forms the parabolic central portion of the lower chamber and in this manner enables the rear portion of the chamber I to conceal the parts illustrated and referred to hereinafter. And a vertical plane portion 24 extended from the second reector to and against the front lens forms two separate compartments. One serves for the stop signal with the usual socket 25, for the bulb 26,

and wire 2'I. And the other serves for the reverse or backing signal with socket 28, bulb 29, and wire 3i). 'Ihese sockets are preferably secured in the second reflector, but may be in the` portion 24 if desired.

In the fore wall of the cap Ibare mounted arrow shaped lenses 3I and 321 for left and `right turn warnings. These lenses conform to the contour of said cap, and each may be constructed of one piece, or in two portions as shown. And in the underside or plane portion 3 is mounted a lens 33, referred to herein-after.

34 is a vertical partition with the lower end against a horizontal 35, constituted thereby two separate compartments in the upper portion of the casing or structure. Because the parabolic cap, preferably, is detachable, said vertical partition is constructed in two pieces 34 and 34a., joined at 36 interlocks.

One of the latter compartments isprovided with a socket 3l, bulb 38 and wire 39, and functions as the left direction signal; while the other is provided with a socket 46, bulb 4I, and wire 42, for the right signal. As can be seen, the sockets 3l and 4U are preferably secured in the portion 34a; although if so desired they may be secured in said horizontal portion 35. It will be noted in Fig. 4, that said partition 35 is curved so as to project the rays centrally upward; and in Fig. 3 it is shown for sake of simplicity hori- Zontal, but same can be disposed at an inclined angle sufficiently to project from the under surface beams rearwardly of the casing or structure.

The wires 39 and 42 extend downward to the other wires IB, 21 and 30 in the rear of the second reflector, and together are passed through an opening 43, formed in the closed end'44 of the chamber to their independent circuit connections respectively.

Around the casing or structure are light transmiting openings, each of which adapted to receive a lens conforming to the casing curvature thercat. And if it is desired to have the casing or structure, for instance, at the rear left of the automobile; said lenses are:

Lens 45, plain, adapted for passage of the usual beam thrown against the 'license plate, marked i5 and shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

Lens 4l, plain, for transmitting of a beam against the rear surfaces of the automobile.

Lens 48, colored, for warning from the left of said automobile.

Lens 49, plain, for transmitting another beam against the same rear surfaces downwardly, substantially in the same direction as the first. It is obvious that the beam will cross the one thrown from lens 41; and thereby intensify and increase the luminous surfaces, and is thus effective especially at night to prevent accident and insure safety in traveling for motorist. Y

The lens 5 being in three pieces, each of'which conforms to the open front of the signal compartments respectively, and are held together by means of a connecting portion 5I, secured in the rim 1.

It will be noted that the present casing or structure is constructed, apart from the cap Ib. in two vertical half portions with joints 52 interlocking, and may be further secured by means of screws 53.

The arm or bracket 54, through which the usual wires of the signals pass, is at one end arranged to receive portion 44, and secured together by any suitable means. The other end 56 represents the usual means for securing said bracket on the vehicle.

58 are lugs disposed at the vertical chamber, serving and arranged as a means to receive said vehicle license plate. In Fig. l, is shown extension brackets 59, secured at the right -and left of the casing at the lugs; and they are only used when it is desired to support the license plate against the outer edge; or when the license plate is not at centre with the casing or beam thrown against it, one extension bracket may be used at the side where the most projection of the license plate is. It is of course understood that other means may be employed to receive and secure said plates.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown a lens 60 in the rear of the parabolic cap for transmitting beams from bulbs 38 and 4I against the vehicle respectively; and are preferably arrow shaped for right and left turn warnings, .conveniently seen by drivers approaching opposite one another. Y

With the parts assembled, illustrated and described above:

The tail or parking bulb I6 operates from the usual main switch; and the directed rays therefrom are transmitted through opening I5 upon the lens 5; through openings 20, 20 upon the upper indicators I2, I2; through lens 45 against the license plate 46, through lens 49 against the wall of the Vehicle.

The stop signal bulb 26 operates from the usual operation of the foot brakes. And the directed rays therefrom are transmitted upon the portion of the lens in the fore thereof and also one indicator; also through lens 4'I'upon the said wall.

Signal bulb 29 operates from any suitable device for reverse. And the directed rays therefrom will illuminate portion of the lens in the fore thereof and one indicator; and lens 48.

Left turn signal bulb 38 operates from `the usual steering post. And the directed rays therefrom are tr-ansmitted through lenses 3I-3I; through lens 33 against license plate 46; throug lens 60 against said wall.

Ihe right turn signal bulb V4I operates from said device. And the directed rays therefrom are transmitted through lenses 32-32, through lens 33 against said license plate; through lenses-49 beams from bulb I6 thrown againstthe license plate are intercepted on the underside of portion 3 -of the cap and deflected therefrom against said license plate and the road bed.

It is further apparent, that whenever 'a bulbV is on, a portion of the vehicle body is instantaneously illuminated together with the other warning means of the respective signal; and is due to the arrangement of the bulbs and cooperative lenses, both of which shall be interpreted as illustrative disposed in the casing and not in a limited sense.

It is understood, that I could instead of'one lens 33 in the portion 3 of the casing for both turn signals employ a separate lens for each.

Also, eliminate the portion 3 by simply terminating the fore portion of the cap and disposed direction lenses therein.

Also, as an extra tail lamp, eliminate the upper or vertical portion of the casing, and restore the parabolic central portion of the horizontal chamber and dispose centrally therein a lens to produce light against the vehicle, as indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 3.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and construction within the scope of the claims, and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

And I claim as new:

1. In combination, a vehicle light casing having light transmitting openings in the rear and on the top, means for mounting a license plate adjacent said top opening, so as to be illuminated by light therefrom, a light in said casing, a reflector for said light, normally obscuring said rear opening and directing the light through the top opening to'illuminat'e the license plate, and an opening in said reector in alignment with the rear opening to permit transmission of light through said rear opening.

2. The`combination as set forth in claim 1, including a direction signal casing positioned above; said means for mounting the license plate, a sig-'-4 nal light therein, direction signal openings in the rear of the casing, a light transmitting opening'v ing in said reector inalignment with the rear` opening to permit transmission of light-through said rear opening, a direction signal casing positioned adjacent said means for mounting the license plate, signal lights therein, direction signal openings in the rear of the signal casing, and another light transmitting opening adjacent the license plate mounting in the signal casing, whereby when said lights are operated to illuminate the signal openings, said lights independently will illuminate the license plate.

ALFRED E. BRANDON. 

